schaefer



Aug. 28, 1928.

G. w. SCHAEFER PRlNTING AND INDEX DEVICE Filed. Oct. 1, 1925 tageous features in view, the invention con-' sists 1n the novel features of (fOIlSlllllCtlOIl,

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED (STATES PATENT oF cE.

, p j GEORGE W. SCHAEFER, 0F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ADDRESSOGRAPH COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PRINTING AND INDEX DEVICE.

This invention has relation to a frame adapted for .use in a card index system, as well as to hold printing plates employed in connection with the system.

Such frames and plates are commonly used by business houses such as'gas, electric light, telephone, and insurance companies,-which send bills 01' other communications to regular customers, in conjunction with an addressing machine known asan Addressograph. through which they are fed to produce impressions on bills or envelopes.

\Vith the usual types of frames now extensively being employed, a printing plate of only standard width may be used with each type of frame. In other words, there are different'standard frames for printing plates of different standard widths.

A salient obj ectof the present inventionis to provide an improved frame, suitable for firmly holding individual or sectional printing plates of any desired width. Another object is to provide the frame with edge flanges which may be corrected in the event that they become malformed in use.

With these and other objects and advancombination and arrangement of parts as will be'more fully hereinafter described in conjunction with the accompanying draw- :ings, wherein Figure 1 shows in perspective view a frame embodying the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are perspectives of printing plates of different widths, which may be employed in connection with the frame.

Figure 4 illustrates in plan view a portion of the frame with a tab locked in position thereto.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the frame, and shows the flange or rib construction at a. side edge.

Figure 6 represents in plan view a portion of a frame provided with a sectional printing plate.

Figure 7 is a section through the frame on 3 the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

As previously indicated, provision is made to mount a printing plate on the frame so that it will be firmly held in place against any substantial movement during the printing oper ation, since otherwise a blurred impression will result. To this end, the lower edge of the frame is rolled in the form of a ledge or sill or bed 1, designed to support a printing plate (the plate'P, for example, shown in Figure 2) against a downward motion.v To prevent a forward or lateral motion of the plate, the frame is provided at either side with a lip 2 struck out therefrom and designed to engage the front face of the plate. The construction thus far described ensures against a downward, forward, backward, or lateral motion of the plate.

In accordance with the present invention,

provision is made to lock a plate of any usual width onto the frame and against substantial upward movement. For this purpose, I have provided yielding latches generally indicated at 3 and located at either side of the frame above the lip 2', Each latch consists of a body portion 3 cut substantially in the form of a triangle and integralwith the frame at one end, and a stop element 4 at its other end separated at its lower portion from the main bod portion 3 by a small notch 5 and pushed rontwardly sufficiently toprotrude from the front face of the frame. By providing a printing plate of any width at the proper place with a suitable opening, as, for example, a slot orcutout or notch 7 at both ends of the printing plate C shown in Figure 2, to mate with the'stop elements 4, it is evident that when the plate is pushed downwardly onto the frame so as to be engaged by the lips 2, and the ledge 1,ithe stop elements are first pushed rearwardly and then sna forward through the mating cutouts 7 to lock the plate and the frame, to prevent motion of the plate in an upward direction.

A printing plate of any other desired width (as, for example, the plate" D represented in dotted outline in Figure 3),if provided with cutouts mating with the stopping elements, may be employed with the frame. In practice, the width of the printing plate is determined by the number i of lines of printing thereon, and so is subject to variations. No cutouts will be necessary in the' plate of minimum width P (shown in Figure 2) used in connection with the frame, since the upper edge of this plate constitutes an abutment for the stop elements 4:, and precludes substantial motion of the plate. A printing plate may be removed from the frame by pushing the stop elements 4: rear- .Wardly with the finger or any suitable instrument and then raising the plate from engage ment with the lips 2, 2. The inherent springifro in successive overlying courses of pro gressively diminishing widths to form flanges 30 of substantially trapezoidal section. If during the use of the frame,-the flanges become thickened at any portion, the successive folds may be compressed, or if they become thinned, they may be opened up with a suitableprying instrument, to produce a proper fit in the addressing i'nachine' In certain cases, the printing plate may be sectional, that is, it may consist of asection having a name and an address, and a smaller section having subject matter which is subject to variation, such as a telephone number or other number or amount. In such case, the

' larger section may be removably mounted on the frame as in Figure 1, and the smaller section S may also rest on the sill 1 and be enaged at its outer end by a lip 31 struck out rom the frame, and at. its inner end by a stud G which also engages the larger section and is more fully set forth and claimed in.

my divisional application Serial No. 281,302,

' filed May 28, 1928. Similarly, the frame may be provided with yielding latches for accommodating sections of different widths and having protruding stop elements 32 constructed to engage in mating slots 33 formed in the section S between its upper and lower edges, Fig.6.

The frame may also, of course, be provided with the usual elements for holdinga card or strip containing a name or any other con- 1 stant or fixed data. These-elements may be located at the upper portion of the frame and may comprise a head 40, corner pocket 45 the bottom lips, 46, 46, and a side lip 47 struck out from the front face of the frame.

Having thus described-an embodiment of this invention, it'should b evident that yerious changes might be redikted to in form, construction, and arrangement of parts there:

1,cs2,1as

in without departing from the. spirit or scope of invention set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A frame of the class described for use in connection with printing plates of diflerent widths. comprising lips struck out from the frame for retaining a plate against lateral or forward motion, a stop for preventing vertical motion of the plate in one direction, and

yielding elements protruding from the face ofthe frame and adapted to be pushed rearward,

from the face of the frame and adapted to be pushed rearwardly while mounting a plate on said frame and to snap through mating slots formed in the plate to lock said plate to said frame against an upward motion.

3. A frame of the class described for use in connection with sectional printing plates of different widths, comprising lips struck out from the frame for retaining the plates against lateral or frontward motion, a sill for supporting the lower edges of the plates and acting as a stop to prevent downward motion of the plates, and yielding latches comprising stops protruding from the face of the frame and adapted to be pushed rearwardly while mounting a plate on said frame and to snap through mating slots formed in the platesto lock the plates to said frame against an upward motion.

4. In a frame of the class described, stops protruding from the face thereof, and a printing plate having openings formed there in mating with the stops of said frame.'

5. A frame of the class described, having flanges on its back side edges, comprisin the edge portions of said frame bent to and ro to form overlying folds.

6. A frame of the class described, having flanges on its back side edges, comprising the edge portions of said frame bent to and ho to form overlying folds of diminishing width.

7. In a device of the class despribed, the combination of a frame, a printing plate having openings extending through its end edges,

and yielding stops on the frame adapted to engage said openings.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GEORGE W. SCI-IAEFER. 

